U.S. TO FOLLOW LAWS ON POWS

The State Department, acting after the capture of the first Iraqi prisoners of war in the Persian Gulf conflict, Saturday notified Iraq the prisoners will be treated in accordance with international law and noted the United States expects Iraq to abide by the same laws.

The State Department said the United States and Iraq are parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention and "as such, both nations are obligated to provide humane treatment of POWs in accordance with the Geneva Convention."The statement was delivered to Iraqi charge d'affaires Khalid Shewayish when he was called to the State Department.

"The Department of State today gave the Iraqi charge a diplomatic note informing Iraq that the United States will abide by its obligations under the Geneva Convention, and that it expected Iraq to do the same," the State Department said in a statement.